The result in The Bentleys and Frating heralds a new dawn in local politics on Tendring District Council and for local politics in Clacton.

Reform UK’s candidate Aimee Keteca stormed to victory for with 45.3% of the vote in a previously strong Conservative district. This sent shivers down the spine of the local Tories, whose activists did not even bother to turn up to the count. Reform UK now has 7 local councillors in our grouping.

I congratulate Aimee on her win and I know she will do her best to repay the faith that residents put in her last week. Having campaigned with her in The Bentleys twice during the campaign (with a few pit stops in The Plough!) I know how strong support is locally.

Your Reform representatives on Tendring District council are busy fighting against cuts to the winter fuel allowance, defending local farmers and fighting against overdevelopment. Their valuable work fighting for important issues is clear for all to see.

That’s why there is no doubt in my mind that the upcoming Essex County Council elections have been cancelled to stop the rise of Reform. 1.2m voters will be denied the opportunity to make their voices heard. It is not just in Westminster that the establishment are petrified, but locally too. They know we would put on a strong performance in those elections. The public want real change.

We will now fight to win the Essex mayoral contest next year and we will continue to organise and build our structures to fight the next set of local elections, whenever they will come. In the meantime, the 7 Reform TDC will continue fighting for you. Make no mistake about it that Reform UK is here to stay in Essex.